Investigating and comparing the occurrence of alkaloid leaching in Coptis trifolia and Hydrastis canadensis rhizospheres

CHED 1096

Shreya A. Kamath, sakama04@stlawu.edu, Department of Biochemistry, St.Lawrence University, Blk.138, Jalan Bukit Merah, #03-1392, 160138 Singapore, Singapore, Aswini Pai, apai@stlawu.edu, Department of Biology, St.Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617, and Matthew C. Skeels, mskeels@stlawu.edu, Department of Chemistry, St.Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY 13617.
Alkaloids are nitrogen-rich compounds found in several plant species.They are important to both plants and humans.In plants, they serve to protect against pathogens and herbivory.Leaching of plant compounds through the roots into surrounding soil has been observed in several plant species.We worked with two related plant species well known for their medicinal properties in Native American ethnopharmacoepia : Coptis trifolia (Goldthread) and Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal). Microwave assisted extraction of plant and soil samples followed by HPLC analysis of the alkaloids on reverse phase-C18 column provided an accurate method for the determination of key alkaloids in Goldenthread and Goldenseal; including palmatine, berberine, canadine,coptisine,hydrastinine and hydrastine. We are currently investigating leaching of these alkaloids into the soil rhizospheres of both C.trifolia and H.canadensis, and will compare the occurrence and scale of alkaloid leaching for both plant species.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008